Natives and Aliens
Marilyn Crispell · 1997
69 min · 11 tracks · jazz
Intricate piano explorations intertwine with free jazz improvisations, creating an ethereal soundscape that defies traditional boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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Stag’s Horn — Opening with an expansive nine-minute piece, this track establishes the album's meditative quality, showcasing Crispell's mastery of dynamics and tonal exploration.
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Day of Small Truths — This track encapsulates the album's delicate balance between complexity and simplicity, revealing subtle shifts in mood that reflect Crispell's nuanced approach to composition.
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Natives and Aliens — The title track serves as a culmination of the album's themes, merging intricate melodies with improvisational elements, presenting a profound reflection on identity and existence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalCrispell's intricate piano work and free jazz elements create a distinctive and immersive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features extended improvisational sections where the piano explores dissonant harmonies, often shifting abruptly between themes.
- Several tracks utilize silence and space as compositional elements, allowing the listener to absorb the intricate textures of the piano.
- The first half of the album maintains a more exploratory tone, while the latter half introduces slightly more structured motifs that create a sense of resolution.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing for deep listening
- meditative exploration of themes
- immersive soundscapes for reflection
- thoughtful engagement with improvisation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer structured, upbeat tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Established Crispell's reputation in contemporary jazz with critical acclaim.
- Career context
- Released in 1997, Natives and Aliens marked Marilyn Crispell's exploration into more abstract and introspective territories of jazz. This album followed her critically acclaimed collaboration with other avant-garde jazz musicians and showcased her evolution as a solo artist, emphasizing her unique voice within the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cecil Taylor· Paul Bley· Annette Peacock
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Stag’s Horn 9:52
- 2 Sumach 6:33
- 3 Rhus 8:05
- 4 Friends from above 6:35
- 5 Hirta 4:23
- 6 Sippenaeken Visitation 8:22
- 7 and the tints 3:54
- 8 a deeper red 1:46
- 9 in velvet 2:37
- 10 Day of Small Truths 7:18
- 11 Natives and Aliens 10:22
What to play next
Nothing Ever Was, Anyway: Music of Annette Peacock
1997
Continues intricate piano explorations with a focus on improvisation and unique soundscapes.
MGM Trio
1996
Sets the stage with collaborative free jazz elements that lead into the complexity of Natives and Aliens.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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